Improvement in fotato-dig-g-ers



-H. FRANCE Potato Digger. I

Patented Nov. 17,1868.

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N re am firmer game HAMILTON FRANCE, OF HINMANSVILLE, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 84,056, fluted November 17, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN POTATO-DIG-G-ERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To whom it may concern- Be it known that I, HAMILTON Fnnxoe, of Hinmansvillc, in the county of Oswego, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Potato-Diggin g Machines; and I do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and being a pant of this specification.

The drawings are in perspective, and partially in section.

The nature of this invention consists in a combination of well-known devices in a machine for digging potatoes, which will be economical in construction, simple in its operation, and certain in its results.

In order to accomplish this end, I construct an axle, A, surmounted upon wheels B, and to which is attached frame 0, provided with suitable boxes, D, by means of which, and proper journals on the shaft or axle A, said frame is attached to the same.

' Upon the centre of the axle is rigidly fastened the geared wheel E, so that it rotates with the axle.

Upon a shaft, F, which is properly journalled'to the rear end of the frame 0, is placed the pinion G, provided with arms, H, projecting from its sides in opposite directions, and which are designed, in the rotation of said pinion, to strike the under side of and give a vertical vibratory motion to the frame I, which is hinged to the front of the frame 0, and by means of connecting-rods,-J, gives a like vertical vibratory motion to the circular grate K, which, at its front end, is hinged to the rear end of the scoop L, which is suspended by bails, M, to the bar N, which is pivoted at its rear end to the front end of the frame 0, while its front end is sustained between the guides and standards 0, which are attached to the axle P by means of a proper king-bolt, by means of the lever Q, pivoted to the arm R, fulcrumcd, at S, to'the standards 0, and held in place by the pin T, passing through said lever and the arm U.

To the front of the bar N is pivoted the tongue V, to which to attach the team, with braces, W, extending from said tongue to the axleP, which said axle is sustained by the wheels X.

Y is a seat for the operator, and Z is a lever by which the operator raises or lowers the rear end of the frame I, when desired.

To operate this machine, place it astride the row of potatoes to be dug; then, by means of. the lever Q, drop the bar N, until the scoop L, which is suspended from it, is low enough to pass under the hills. By means of the lever Z'chop the rear end of the frame I, and the grate K, which is attached to it by the connecting-rods J. Then start the team, when the scoop will pass under the hill, taking the same up, and passing it on to the grate, which will have a pitch or incline to the rear, and which will, by means of the vertical vibratory motion hereinbefore described, shake the earth loose from the potatoes, which will pass off the grate at the rear of the machine, whilethe dirt will drop through the grate.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The geared wheel E, shaft F, pinion G, and arms H, in connection with the axle A, frames 0 and 1, connectiug-rods J, for the purpose of giving a vertical vi-' bratory motion to the grate K, substantially as herein described.

2. The frames 0 and I, hinged together at their front constructed and operating substantially as herein speci- 3. The bar N, arms R and U, lever Q, fulcrum S, and pin T, in connection with guides and standards 0, axle P, and tongue V, when combined, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described 4. The combination of the above-named parts with the wheels B and X, bails M, and seat Y, when constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein set forth and shown.

Witnesses:

HENRY P. ELLIS, G. E. FISHER.

HAMILTON FRANCE. 

